What Makes A Great Perfume Name?

Daisy and I are hitting Twisted Lily today to try the newest Serge Lutens fragrance, L’Orpheline. Yes, you read that right: “The Orphan”. Imagine you’re on a first date with a smoldering-yet-sensitive Chris Pine lookalike. He leans in and whispers, “I must know the name of your perfume, you enchanting creature.” “It’s ‘Orphan’, darling,” you whisper back. He never calls, and you’re forced to settle for a not-remotely-Chris-Pine-lookalike. Or what about that coworker who always asks what you’re wearing? Tell her it’s ‘Orphan’, and the next thing you know you’re being forced into orphan sensitivity seminars. This isn’t Serge’s first naming offense, by the way; remember the Silence Of The Lambs-tastic “Skin Games”?

The magic formula for a perfect perfume name is complex and highly subjective. You need to strike the right balance between catchy, evocative, grammatically correct, and difficult for Americans to mangle. Here are my perfume naming criteria; please feel free to debate and share your own in the comments!

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32 thoughts on “What Makes A Great Perfume Name?”

But if it’s in French suddenly it sounds lovely and refined. Which just reminds me of years and years ago when my friends & I were probably–definitely–writing Final Fantasy VII fanfic because I am that kind of nerd it was like, ‘We need a title! Quick give me the word for this in French.’ and voila! Speaking very little French myself, upon first reading it L’Orpheline evoked thoughts of Orpheus.

Shhh, they’ll start banning that like civet soon enough. And then the imitation Orphan extract will never compare. Also, I’m going to hell. I needed a laugh this afternoon, and this post provided that.

When I think of “L’Orpheline” I remember the stinging exchange between James Bond and Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (yes, yes, Daniel Craig and Eva Green), and that is somehow a *very sexy* “Oh-I-know-YOU (and I hate you)” sort of scene, so that name doesn’t bother me much. However, it’s a Serge so I haven’t bothered to smell it.

I still haven’t seen Casino Royale, or any James Bond, actually. Apres l’Ondee is one of the all-time great perfume names. Guerlain does beautiful perfume names in general, although they rarely adhere to the “pronounceable for non-native French speakers” rule.

I have actually lied about a perfume rather than attempting to explain that I am wearing ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong Baby, I Don’t Swallow’. Thanks for that, Etat Libre d’Orange! In other respects it is a perfectly nice, light, office-appropriate perfume. P.S. Femme L’Eau Fraiche Sheer Florale Absolu Narnia is THE BEST perfume name ever.

Hey there Arielle,
I have a little story. In Australia we have a saying, “Real men don’t eat Quiche.” As a child I was brought up calling Quiche “Eggy Pie” and it wasn’t till I moved from home that I found out the secret.
On telling this story once an English friend of ours told the story of how her grandmother would offer to cook Egg Bread and the kids would all go “YUCKY!” but when she said French Toast, they all said “YUMMO!”
Funny things names.
Honestly though I couldn’t care less what a scent is called as long as I can say it out loud without sounding like a complete backwoods Betty, and as long as the juice is how I like it.
Portia x

I loved the post and agree with most of your criteria but I have to say that if anybody had dared to address me “you enchanting creature,” “Orphan” would have been the most polite word in my response – no matter whose lookalike the person had been.